Palo Alto Police Department's longest-serving member calls it quits

By Jason Green

Daily News Staff Writer

Posted:
02/14/2014 12:31:38 AM PST

Updated:
02/14/2014 12:57:10 AM PST

Click photo to enlarge

Reserve Officer Dennis Neverve poses for a photo at the Palo Alto Police Department on Wednesday, Feb. 5, 2014. Neverve is retiring after 46 years, having served longer than anyone else at the police department.
(Kirstina Sangsahachart/ Daily News)

Dennis Neverve knows precisely how long he has worn a Palo Alto Police Department uniform. It's a record and one that won't be broken anytime soon, even as the 70-year-old hangs up his badge and revolver for good. Friday was his last day on the job.

"Not knowing what was going to happen. I think that was what really spurred me on -- the challenge of not knowing how I was going to have to apply myself," Neverve said during a recent interview at the police station.

This is the second time Neverve has retired from the police department. He stepped down in 1997 after 30 years as a full-fledged officer. But he immediately returned to the force as a reserve officer.

Neverve knew from an early age that he wanted to work in law enforcement. In Morgan Hill, he lived across the street from the police chief, who let the then-13-year-old accompany his officers on calls.

"He let me do ride-alongs before ride-alongs were even considered," said Neverve.

Neverve applied to half-a-dozen police departments when he turned 21. Palo Alto was the quickest to respond. On July 3, 1967, police Chief William Hydie swore him in as an officer.

"I thought, 'I'll work for Palo Alto for a few years, get my foot in the door, then maybe transfer to another agency,'" Neverve said. "Well, 46 years later ... I've had a wonderful and exciting career."

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The police department was very different then, Neverve said. He spent several months patrolling the city on foot before attending a two-week, in-house academy. These days, officers spend up to a year learning the ropes before they hit the streets on their own, said Lt. April Wagner.

"When I came on, it was, 'here's your badge,' and away you went," Neverve said. "There was no field training."

Officers didn't have portable radios. Instead they used dimes to call into dispatch every hour. Neverve said the dimes were painted red so that they could be returned to the police department.

Recruits were also responsible for purchasing their own gear, including uniforms and weapons. Neverve has carried the same Colt Python .357 Magnum for the entirety of his career.

Equipment is now issued by the police department and semiautomatics are the weapon of choice. Neverve never gave up his revolver. As a range instructor, he saw too many semiautomatics fail.

"It's really like having a legacy around," Benitez said about Neverve. "You look at the service stripes on his sleeve and you see nine of them. Each one of those hash marks represents five years of service. ... Just the impact that has to a younger officer is incredible."

Wagner also praised Neverve's work ethic.

"Denny is a model of dedication and service," she said. "He's always ready to volunteer his time. It's rare and it's been really nice to see for so many years."

Neverve held several positions in the department over the course of his career but he spent the lion's share -- 24 years -- in patrol. Management, he said, never held any interest for him.

"I liked the streets," he said. "You could be your own cop on the street. You could stop people and you didn't have to give everyone a ticket. In supervision, you lose that ability to be yourself."

As much as he loves the job, Neverve acknowledged there have been low points. He pointed to the death of Gene Clifton, a fellow officer who suffered a fatal gunshot wound while serving a warrant in 1971. The two were good friends who played pool and poker together.

"I had seen tragedy and death already," Neverve recalled. "But that one hit home real hard."

Forty-six years, seven months and seven days. It's a long time, he said. Only police Chief Dennis Burns, Animal Control Officer William Warrior and a handful of retired per diem dispatchers come anywhere close.

"I don't think my record will ever be broken," Neverve said. "I didn't do it for any kind of a record. But maybe it'll be an incentive to someone else."